Kwara Police Clear Rumours of Bandit Attack in Oke-Oyi

The Kwara State Police Command has said there was no bandit attack in Oke-Oyi, Ilorin East Local Government Area. They warned people against spreading false information that can cause panic and disorder.

The command also said it is working to find and charge the person who started the alarm. This alarm caused a temporary halt to activities at Government Girls Secondary School, Oke-Oyi.

A statement from the command’s spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the incident happened around 9:15 a.m. Reports came in that suspected bandits were in the area. This sparked fear among residents and school members.

Adetoun explained that officers were quickly sent out to check the situation and keep residents safe.

"Upon receiving the information, the Divisional Police Officer of Oke-Oyi Division quickly mobilised personnel to the scene to assess the situation and ensure the safety of students, staff, and residents," she said.

The police later confirmed that the alarm was false.

"Preliminary findings showed that the alarm came from a woman who rushed into the school saying bandits were around.

“This unverified claim caused panic among students and teachers, leading to a temporary disruption of academic activities," she added.

After a thorough check, the police found no sign of any attack or security breach in the area.

"The command’s assessment confirmed that the report was completely false and had no factual basis.

“There was no bandit attack, no sighting of bandits, and no security breach in the school or anywhere in Oke-Oyi community or Kwara State," Adetoun said.

In response to the situation, the Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, condemned what he called the careless spreading of false security alerts. He said such actions can cause unnecessary fear and distract from real threats.

He stated, "The spread of unverified information, especially about security matters, undermines public trust and may take critical resources away from real emergencies."

The police chief mentioned that they are already taking steps to find the source of the false alarm.

"Once identified, the person will be called in for questioning and made to face the full consequences of the law regarding the spread of false information and actions that could disturb public peace," Adekimi said.

While advising residents to stay alert, the command warned against sharing rumours or unverified reports about security.

They urged the public to check information through the right channels and report any suspicious activities to security agencies. The police assured residents that measures are in place to protect lives and property across the state.